888 area code: is it toll-free and how to get one
Yes: 888 has served as a US toll-free prefix since 1996. Calls are paid for by the business that holds the number, which is assigned to it rather than sold.
- Toll-free
- Yes
- Used since
- 1996
- Who covers call costs
- Number holder
- Can it be purchased outright?
- No: 47 CFR 52.107
- Code for the country
- For the US, Canada and the Caribbean, the code is +1.
Sources: toll-free numbers are covered by 47 CFR Part 52, Subpart D; prefix dates come from NANPA toll-free history.
Get a 888 number
A plan comes with a toll-free number. Your provider requests that its RespOrg reserve a number for you. You can choose 888 as the desired prefix and a word number if it is available.
| Provider | Cheapest plan | First year | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
 Developer API | Pay-as-you-go local number, $1.15 a month | $13.80 | Open Twilio |
 Toll-free specialist | Solo, $6.99 a month billed yearly | $84 | Open UniTel Voice |
 Second-number app | Deluxe (local number), $6.99 a month billed yearly | $102.88 | Open GoDaddy Conversations (formerly Smartline) |
 Business phone system | US & CA Metered at $10.50 each month when billed yearly | $126 | Open Zoom Phone |
 Business phone system | Starter, $12 a month billed yearly | $144 | Open KrispCall |
 Second-number app | Elite, $12 a month billed yearly | $144 | Open eVoice |
 Second-number app | True Solo, $14 a month billed yearly | $168 | Open Grasshopper |
 Business phone system | NEXT Core, $15 a month billed yearly | $180 | Open Nextiva |
 Business phone system | Basic, $15 a month billed yearly | $180 | Open Phone.com |
 Business phone system | Starter, $15 a month billed yearly | $180 | Open Quo (formerly OpenPhone) |
 Toll-free specialist | Startup, $19 a month billed yearly | $228 | Open 800.com |
 Business phone system | RingEX Core, $20 a month billed yearly | $240 | Open RingCentral |
 Business phone system | Essentials, $19.95 a month | $269.35 | Open Ooma Office |
Some sellers and providers may pay us a referral fee. This does not affect the ranking, which follows first-year cost. How we earn
Use it to spell a word
A word can be spelled by the last 7 digits, since each digit after 888 carries letters. Find the digits for your word or see how vanity toll-free numbers get assigned.
888 number questions
Is 888 itself a scam?
No. Businesses and agencies use the real toll-free prefix 888. Toll-free numbers can also be rented by scammers, who can fake caller ID. Base your judgment on the call, not the prefix. Never share a code or card number with a caller you did not expect.
Is it free to call a 888 number?
Yes. There is no charge for calls from US landlines, and none on most mobile plans; the number holder pays. International calls may be blocked or charged.
Can I buy a 888 number?
Toll-free numbers cannot be sold to anyone. A provider assigns one to you with a plan. You keep it as long as you keep paying.